Many economists are very generous people, but part of the mutilitarian moral philosophy of the discipline is to normalize or even laud homo economicus.  Homo economicus is the model citizen of economics: a greedy sociopath who only cares about maximizing…

Yglesias theorizes that the obsession about government deficits among elite Americans is motivated more by a hate of our big entitlement programs, Social Security and Medicare, than by anything else.  That is why elites have not changed their focus on…

The economics blogosphere recently lit up with responses to Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke’s commencement address at Princeton.  Bernanke noted the fallacy that a meritocracy always has merit and/or is fair.  Meritocracy means rule by the people with the greatest ability…

Labor’s declining share of the national income is related to the declining median income because most people make almost all of their income from working (labor) whereas only the very wealthy make most of their income from owning capital.  When…

Today, my 14-year old played in the band for a Bluffton Memorial Day service and there was broad community attendance despite rainy weather and a last-minute change in venue.  Bluffton Ohio has strong civic engagement and this is easier in…